News Release
FHFA ANNOUNCES TOOLS TO HELP RENTERS FIND OUT IF THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM EVICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/4/2020
Washington, D.C. – To help renters find out if they are protected from evictions during the COVID-19 national health emergency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) have created online multifamily property lookup tools.
The property lookup tools allow renters to find out if the multifamily property where they reside has an Enterprise-backed mortgage. Under the CARES Act, renters living in a property with an Enterprise-backed mortgage are covered by a temporary eviction moratorium. Landlords with Enterprise-backed mortgages can enter forbearance if their tenants cannot pay rent due to COVID-19 loss of income.
“Today's tool protects renters and empowers them to find out if they live in a multifamily property covered by the eviction moratorium," said Director Mark Calabria. “Landlords with Enterprise-backed mortgages cannot evict tenants for failing to pay their rent if they are affected by COVID-19. Renters who can pay their rent should."
Renters are still expected to pay their rent during the eviction moratorium period, if they can. Those experiencing financial hardship should reach out to their landlord to discuss their situation and potential solutions.
Renters living in multifamily properties with Enterprise-backed mortgages who need support should reach out to the Fannie Mae Helpline at 877-542-9723, if Fannie Mae backs their building's mortgage, or the Freddie Mac Helpline at 800-404-3097, if Freddie Mac backs their building's mortgage.
See Fannie Mae's Multifamily Loan Lookup Tool
here
.
See Freddie Mac's Multifamily Loan Lookup Tool
here
.
###
|
|
Updates on Grading, Graduation Requirements & Promotion Policy
|
|
A
sk Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner
Chicago Department of Public Health
May 4, 2020
|
|
Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
As
Governor Pritzker's modified Stay at Home
order on Friday, May 1, local municipalities and cities are permitted to enact stricter provisions than those in the Executive Order. To ensure Chicago continues to flatten the COVID-19 curve and slow the rate of increase in total cases in the city, the City of Chicago is announcing local modifications to the order that will build on our progress.
Beginning May 1, all Chicago residents and visitors over the age of two and for whom wearing a face-covering is medically feasible will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can't maintain a six-foot social distance. As part of the City's efforts to ensure residents have access to cloth masks, the City will partner with diverse local vendors to create and distribute one million reusable cloth masks. As part of this effort, a total of 250,000 will be distributed to Aldermanic offices over the coming weeks to provide to their constituents and an additional 750,000 reusable cloth masks will be provided to vulnerable populations this month through our Racial Equity Rapid Response Team.
Under the modified order, the Lakefront, including its adjacent trails, green spaces and park facilities will remain closed throughout the month of May. Recognizing that Chicago still has further to go to bring down the curve, golfing is not yet permitted. Additionally, fishing and boating will not be permitted by individuals, though individuals may access their boats for maintenance and de-winterization, consistent with the guidance of the Chicago Park District.
In accordance with the modified Stay at Home Order, Chicago's animal grooming services, greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries will now be considered essential and may re-open May 1. Additionally, retail stores in Chicago that are not designated as essential may re-open to fulfill online or telephone orders, for delivery or curbside pickup. All essential businesses and non-essential businesses that are engaged in minimum basic operations will be required to provide employees with face coverings, gloves and other protective equipment as needed as well as adhere to social distancing guidelines.
In addition to these new protocols and modifications, the State has issued further requirements and guidance for businesses, hospitals, schools and residents in the state. For more information on the modified Stay at Home order and how it affects Chicago, please visit
chicago.gov/coronavirus
.
What's New
Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge
- Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Department of Housing (DOH) Commissioner Marisa Novara and Chicago’s leading housing lenders and landlord associations announced
the Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge
, an effort to provide relief to beleaguered tenants and building owners negatively impacted by COVID-19. The pledge affirms lenders and landlords may offer eligible renters and mortgage holders deferred payment agreements and other financial relief, including:
- Grace Period for Rent and Mortgage Payments: Offer deferred payments with repayment terms that avoid immediate repayment at the end of the deferral period.
- Written Repayment Plan: Permit renters with a missed rent payment to amortize the payments over time.
- Suspension of Foreclosures: Provide relief from foreclosure filing until May 31, 2020.
- Neutral Reporting to Credit Agencies: No reporting late payments to credit reporting agencies, consistent with applicable guidelines, for residential borrowers taking advantage of COVID-19 related relief, provided that loans that were delinquent prior to deferral will continue to be reported as delinquent.
- No Late Fees for Missed Payments: Provide relief from mortgage- and rent-related late fees.
Virtual Board and Commission
Meetings
– The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has established
guidelines for Virtual Board and Commission meetings
. Chicago Plan Commission (CPC), Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and Commission on Chicago Landmarks (CCL) meetings held during the COVID-19 public health crisis will be conducted remotely by video conference and streamed live through YouTube. Links to the stream will be provided through each commission’s respective website on the day of each meeting. More detailed information is available at
www.chicago.gov/cpc
,
www.chicago.gov/zba
and
www.chicago.gov/ccl
.
Resources
Accommodations for Residents Fleeing Violence
– The City of Chicago is partnering with Airbnb to
provide residents needing to flee violent situations with a safe places to stay
. After a resident calls the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, the operator will then coordinate with HotelTonight (a member of the Airbnb family) and The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence to place the hotel reservation on the behalf of the caller, and The Network will cover the cost of these stays with funding from the State. This process will ensure the security and privacy of all parties. The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline is available to residents 24/7/365 at 877-863-6338 (TTY 877-863-6339).
Emergency Food Coordination Center
- The City’s
Emergency Food Coordination Center at Malcolm X College,
in partnership with The Salvation Army and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, ensures that all who have tested positive or have been asked to quarantine by healthcare officials have access to food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents who are homebound and quarantined due to COVID-19 who need direct food deliveries and do not qualify for existing food support services can contact 3-1-1 to submit a request. The center will coordinate with The Salvation Army for emergency meal box deliveries, typically within 48 hours. The emergency meal boxes include a seven-day supply of food with three meals per day. Residents who need assistance the following week need to submit a new request to 3-1-1 at that point. If you need assistance, contact 3-1-1 by downloading the CHI311 free mobile app, going online at
311.Chicago.gov
or by calling 3-1-1.
Smart 911
- Sign up for Smart 911 and create a safety profile for yourself and your family. In the event of an emergency, your Safety Profile is made available to call takers the moment your phone or one associated with your account dials 9-1-1. The service is free and sign up can be completed in minutes at
smart911.com
.
Chi COVID Coach
- The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has launched ‘Chi COVID Coach’, a mobile-friendly, web-based application designed to support residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Chi COVID Coach advises residents on what to do when they are experiencing symptoms and where to seek medical care via text messages. In addition to coaching Chicagoans on what to do when they are sick, it creates opportunity to notify residents when antibody testing is available. Further down the line, it will also serve as a pre-registration for vaccine dissemination once it becomes available. Because of this, everyone is encouraged to sign up, whether they have symptoms or not. Registration for the app is free and information will be protected and only used by CDPH for public health purposes related to COVID-19. The app is more accessible through the web or a cell phone and you do not have to download anything on your phone to use it. You can find the app at
Chicago.gov/COVIDCOACH
.
|
|
Latest Public Health Guidance
|
|
Join the Fight against COVID-19
Job Opportunities
Donate
Volunteer
|
|
|
Please Support the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund
The global pandemic is having an enormous economic impact on our local arts community. The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) are aggressively exploring financial supports for this sector, and to that end Mayor Lightfoot and Governor Pritzker recently launched the
Arts for Illinois Relief Fund
alongside Arts Alliance Illinois and Chicago's remarkable philanthropic community. The fund - providing relief to workers and organizations in the creative industries - has now raised over $5 million (including $1 million contributed by DCASE) from generous foundations and individuals to support artists, artisans and cultural organizations impacted by COVID-19.
If you are able to support the arts at this crucial moment, please visit the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund at
www.artsforillinois.org
. To help meet the unprecedented need, we are hoping to raise another $65,000 in grassroots donations before funding applications reopen on Monday, May 4. All of the donated funds will go directly to artists and arts organizations through the grant making partners 3Arts and Arts Work Fund.
COVID-19 Arts Community Resources
Year of Chicago Music Continues
Due to the cancellation of several major music festivals, Mayor Lightfoot and DCASE will extend the 2020 Year of Chicago Music into 2021 to amplify the excitement and momentum building across the local industry.
Recognizing that the music industry has moved to #DoStuffAtHome, DCASE has partnered with Do312 to launch a new listing of
Year of Chicago Music Virtual Concerts
to highlight the local music venues and musicians sharing "Music in the Key of Chicago." If you're hosting a virtual concert or music event, please send information and an image to
[email protected]
.
And don't miss as local artists take over
@ChicagosMayor
Instagram each Sunday in May for live performances benefiting the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund.
Cultural Grants Program
Mayor Lightfoot and DCASE recently awarded the 2020 Individual Artists Program grants (ranging from $850 to $5,000) to 158 Chicago-based artists, 66 of which are from the music sector - and, new this year, $10,000
Esteemed Artist Awards
to 13 individuals including 7 musicians. Please join us in congratulating them.
Later this year through the 2020 CityArts Program, DCASE will award well over $1 million in grants to cultural organizations who need our support now more than ever. Visit
chicagoculturalgrants.org
for updates.
DCASE Team Supports City's COVID-19 Response
Did you know over 40% of DCASE staff have been deployed to assist with the City's COVID-19 response? While working diligently to provide supports for the arts community and at-home cultural programming, we've also been helping with food distribution, volunteer management, media response and more.
Venue Closures and Event Cancellations
Following recommendations from the CDC and the guidance of City and State officials, DCASE has announced the following:
Plans for summer programming and events remain under discussion. The City of Chicago will continue to work closely with our partners at the State to adopt protocols based on the recommendations and guidance of health experts.
Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Health's website
chicago.gov/coronavirus
, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.
|
|
University of Chicago COVID-19 Impact Survey for Illinois Small Businesses
The University of Chicago is reaching out to small business owners like you to take a short and confidential survey about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Please click the link below to complete the survey by May 15th.
Your feedback can help improve the types of assistance that city and state government agencies provide to help businesses like yours survive and recover from this crisis.
To thank you for your response, you will be entered in a lottery for the chance to win one of ten $500 prizes!
|
|
Recently, several opportunities to connect low-income residents to additional food supports have come to our attention.
For communities on the south and west sides of the city:
- Home delivery of fresh produce and meat, chicken, fish and pork available with no delivery fee -- Chicago nonprofit Top Box Foods is doubling down on its commitment to serving those most vulnerable to COVID-19 by quickly adapting their delivery model to bring fresh produce and frozen meats directly to residents' doors on the South and West sides, limiting their exposure to the virus. During this pandemic, Top Box Foods is delivering directly to homes every Tuesday and Friday. Food is offered at up 40% below retail and Top Box Foods takes SNAP in addition to credit cards. There is no delivery fee. Please see the flyer attached to this email, and to learn more, go to https://www.topboxfoods.com/cook-county-chicago/shop-boxes
For the Back of the Yards neighborhood, specifically:
- Produce Boxes available for SNAP households on the southwest side -- Plant Chicago is partnering with The Urban Canopy to distribute Link Produce Boxes to their neighbors on the southwest side. Produce boxes will be available for pick up in the Back of the Yards community on Saturdays with social distance practices in effect. This distribution is part of the Link Match program, so customers will only be charged $20 on their Link Card for a box that retails at $40. Call (773) 847-5523, email [email protected], or visit https://plantchicago.org/farmers-market/link-produce-box/ for more information.
And don’t forget:
- To apply for SNAP, visit the IDHS application page at: https://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access/ or call 1-800-843-6154
- Additional SNAP benefits are now temporarily extended to children who would receive a free or reduced price lunch if school was in session regardless of income or citizenship. Active SNAP households with these children will not need to take additional action, but those not currently receiving benefits will need to submit an application.
- To find emergency food in your community, use the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s website at: https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food/ or call (773) 247-3663 or 311.
|
|
Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and SSI Recipients – Steps to Take and Schedule of Payments
A Message to the Social Security Beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income Recipients:
This document provides information for Social Security beneficiaries (retirement, survivors, disability) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients related to economic impact payments being issued to eligible individuals. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not the Social Security Administration (SSA), will send all payments electronically or paper checks by mail. We documented for you different scenarios to help explain what actions, if any, you may need to take to receive your economic impact payment and any payment for a qualifying child. However, only the IRS can answer questions you may have about your personal or family situation. Please do not call SSA with your payment questions. Visit:
www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information available. You can find the information you need by following these steps:
1. Locate the blue text that describes which monthly benefit you receive and when you started receiving benefits.
2. Look for the row that matches your situation whether you filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return, and whether you have any qualifying children. If you need to take an action, please act quickly to get your payment or a payment for your qualifying child. If you received an economic impact payment for yourself less than $1,200, you can read why at IRS’ Economic Impact Payment Information Center and Economic Impact Payments and the Treasury Offset Program web pages.
Note: Do you have a representative payee and receive your monthly benefit payment by mail? We will share information about representative payees as soon as possible.
|
|
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
President Kari K. Steele Reminds the Public to Conserve Water When It Rains
Water conservation aids in MWRD’s critical mission of treating wastewater, managing stormwater and protecting the environment
CHICAGO - Can you see, hear and smell the rain? "Remember, when it's raining, please help the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
(MWRD) by using less water. Hold off on starting the dishwasher, starting your washing machine, taking long showers, etc. This will make more space available for combined storm water to travel to our system,"
said MWRD President Kari K. Steele.
MWRD is essential
to healthy waterways and treats every ounce of wastewater that leaves your house at one of our seven wastewater treatment plants throughout Cook County. With everyone sheltering in place there will obviously be more wastewater leaving your house every day from toilets, showers, sinks, dishwashers & washing machines.
YOU can help us with
our critical mission
of treating wastewater and managing stormwater by conserving water and protecting the environment, by taking extra precaution during rain events and scheduling your showers and laundry for after rain hours. YOU can also make sure that you don’t flush disinfectant wipes and paper towels down the toilet even though some of them say “flushable”.
The MWRD is working diligently to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Cook County.
Please stay safe, stay healthy, wash your hands & continue to practice social distancing
.
###
|
|
|
|
|
|
|